AB489,27,1010 48.981 (3g) (h) (title) Records; information to department.
AB489,68 11Section 68. 48.981 (3m) (a) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
AB489,27,1212 48.981 (3m) (a) (title) Definition.
AB489,69 13Section 69. 48.981 (3m) (b) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
AB489,27,1414 48.981 (3m) (b) (title) Establishment of program.
AB489,70 15Section 70. 48.981 (3m) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB489,27,2016 48.981 (3m) (b) 1. Guidelines for determining the appropriate alternative
17response to a report of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect, including
18guidelines for determining what types of abuse or neglect or threatened abuse or
19neglect constitute substantial abuse or neglect. The Notwithstanding s. 227.10 (1),
20the
department need not promulgate those guidelines as rules under ch. 227.
AB489,71 21Section 71. 48.981 (3m) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB489,28,222 48.981 (3m) (c) Alternative responses. (intro.) Immediately after receiving a
23report under sub. (3) (a), an agency or county department that is participating in the
24pilot program shall evaluate the report to determine the most appropriate

1alternative response under subds. 1. to 3. to the report. Based on that evaluation,
2the agency or county department shall respond to the report as follows:
AB489,72 3Section 72. 48.981 (3m) (c) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB489,28,144 48.981 (3m) (c) 1. If the agency or county department determines that there
5is reason to suspect that substantial abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur
6or that an investigation under sub. (3) (3g) is otherwise necessary to ensure the safety
7of the child and his or her family, the agency or county department shall investigate
8the report as provided in sub. (3) (3g). If in conducting that investigation the agency
9or county department determines that it is not necessary for the safety of the child
10and his or her family to complete the investigation, the agency or county department
11may terminate the investigation and conduct an assessment under subd. 2. If the
12agency or county department terminates an investigation, the agency or county
13department shall document the reasons for terminating the investigation and notify
14any law enforcement agency that is cooperating in the investigation.
AB489,73 15Section 73. 48.981 (3m) (c) 2. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB489,29,216 48.981 (3m) (c) 2. b. If the agency or county department employs the
17assessment response under subd. 2. a., the agency or county department is not
18required to refer the report to the sheriff or police department under sub. (3) (a) 3.
19(cg) or determine by a preponderance of the evidence under sub. (3) (c) 4. (3g) (d) that
20abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur or that a specific person has abused
21or neglected the child. If in conducting the assessment the agency or county
22department determines that there is reason to suspect that substantial abuse or
23neglect has occurred or is likely to occur or that an investigation under sub. (3) (3g)
24is otherwise necessary to ensure the safety of the child and his or her family, the

1agency or county department shall immediately commence an investigation under
2sub. (3) (3g).
AB489,74 3Section 74. 48.981 (3m) (c) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB489,29,134 48.981 (3m) (c) 3. If the agency or county department determines that there
5is no reason to suspect that abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur, the
6agency or county department shall refer the child's family to a service provider in the
7community for the provision of appropriate services on a voluntary basis. If the
8agency or county department employs the community services response under this
9subdivision, the agency or county department is not required to conduct an
10assessment under subd. 2., refer the report to the sheriff or police department under
11sub. (3) (a) 3. (cg), or determine by a preponderance of the evidence under sub. (3) (c)
124.
(3g) (d) that abuse or neglect has occurred or is likely to occur or that a specific
13person has abused or neglected the child.
AB489,75 14Section 75. 48.981 (3m) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
AB489,76 15Section 76. 48.981 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB489,29,2416 48.981 (5) Coroner's report. Any person or official required to report cases of
17suspected child abuse or neglect who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child
18died as a result of child abuse or neglect shall report the fact to the appropriate
19medical examiner or coroner. The medical examiner or coroner shall accept the
20report for investigation and shall report the findings to the appropriate district
21attorney; to the department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more,
22to a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department in a county
23having a population of 750,000 or more
; to the county department ; to the department;
24and, if the institution making the report initially is a hospital, to the hospital.
AB489,77
1Section 77. 48.981 (7) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7) and
2amended to read:
AB489,30,73 48.981 (7) Confidentiality. All reports made under this section, notices
4provided under sub. (3) (3f) (bm) , and records maintained by an agency and other
5persons, officials, and institutions shall be confidential. Reports and records may be
6disclosed only to the following persons:
No report may be disclosed, except as
7provided in subs. (3f) (c), (7d), (7g), and (7m).
AB489,78 8Section 78. 48.981 (7) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (a).
AB489,79 9Section 79. 48.981 (7) (a) 1m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (am)
10and amended to read:
AB489,30,1811 48.981 (7g) (am) Request of reporter. A reporter described in sub. (3) (c) 6m. (3g)
12(fm)
who makes a written request to an agency for information regarding what
13action, if any, was taken to protect the health and welfare of the child or unborn child
14who is the subject of the report, unless a court order under sub. (3) (c) 6m. (3g) (fm)
15prohibits disclosure of that information to that reporter, except that the only
16information that may be disclosed is information in the record regarding what action,
17if any, was taken to protect the health and welfare of the child or unborn child who
18is the subject of the report.
AB489,80 19Section 80. 48.981 (7) (a) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (b).
AB489,81 20Section 81. 48.981 (7) (a) 2m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (bm)
21and amended to read:
AB489,30,2422 48.981 (7g) (bm) Intake or dispositional staff. A person authorized to provide
23or providing intake or dispositional services for the court under s. 48.067, 48.069 or,
2448.10, 938.067, 938.069, or 938.10.
AB489,82 25Section 82. 48.981 (7) (a) 2r. of the statutes is repealed.
AB489,83
1Section 83. 48.981 (7) (a) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (c).
AB489,84 2Section 84. 48.981 (7) (a) 3m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (cm).
AB489,85 3Section 85. 48.981 (7) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (d) and
4amended to read:
AB489,31,95 48.981 (7d) (d) Foster parent or other physical custodian. A child's foster parent
6or other person having physical custody of the child or a person having physical
7custody of the expectant mother of an unborn child, except that the person or agency
8maintaining the record or report may not disclose any information that would
9identify the reporter.
AB489,86 10Section 86. 48.981 (7) (a) 4m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (dm)
11and amended to read:
AB489,31,1712 48.981 (7d) (dm) Relative. A relative of a child placed outside of his or her home
13only to the extent necessary to facilitate the establishment of a relationship between
14the child and the relative or a placement of the child with the relative or to a person
15provided with the notice under s. 48.21 (5) (e), 48.355 (2) (cm), or 48.357 (2v) (d). In
16this subdivision paragraph, "relative" includes a relative whose relationship is
17derived through a parent of the child whose parental rights are terminated.
AB489,87 18Section 87. 48.981 (7) (a) 4p. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (dp).
AB489,88 19Section 88. 48.981 (7) (a) 5. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (e) and
20amended to read:
AB489,32,221 48.981 (7d) (e) Community programs and developmental disability services
22professionals.
A professional employee of a county department under s. 51.42 or
2351.437 who is working with the child or the expectant mother of the unborn child
24under a contract with or under the supervision of the county department under s.

146.22 or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a
2licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department
an agency.
AB489,89 3Section 89. 48.981 (7) (a) 6. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (f) and
4amended to read:
AB489,32,85 48.981 (7d) (f) Multidisciplinary team. A multidisciplinary child abuse and
6neglect or unborn child abuse team recognized by the county department or, in a
7county having a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child
8welfare agency under contract with the department
agency.
AB489,90 9Section 90. 48.981 (7) (a) 6m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (fm)
10and amended to read:
AB489,32,1611 48.981 (7d) (fm) Child advocacy center. A person employed by a child advocacy
12center recognized by the county board, the county department or, in a county having
13a population of 500,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency
14under contract with the department
or the agency, to the extent necessary to perform
15the services for which the center is recognized by the county board, the county
16department, the department or the licensed child welfare agency
.
AB489,91 17Section 91. 48.981 (7) (a) 8. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (h) and
18amended to read:
AB489,32,2119 48.981 (7d) (h) Law enforcement authorities. A law enforcement officer or, law
20enforcement agency, or a district attorney for purposes of investigation or
21prosecution.
AB489,92 22Section 92. 48.981 (7) (a) 8m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (hm)
232. and amended to read:
AB489,33,824 48.981 (7d) (hm) 2. The department of corrections, the department of health
25services, a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42 , or 51.437, or any

1other person under contract with the department of corrections, the department of
2health services, or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, or
351.437 to exercise custody or supervision over a person who is subject to community
4placement for purposes of investigating or providing services to a person who is
5subject to community placement and who is the subject of a report. In making its
6investigation, the department of corrections, department of health services, county
7department, or other person shall cooperate with the agency making the
8investigation under sub. (3) (c) or (d) (3g) to (3m).
AB489,93 9Section 93. 48.981 (7) (a) 8s. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (hs) and
10amended to read:
AB489,33,2111 48.981 (7d) (hs) Sexually violent person commitments. Authorized
12representatives of the department of corrections, the department of health services,
13the department of justice, or a district attorney for use in the prosecution of any
14proceeding or any evaluation conducted under ch. 980, if the reports or records
15involve or relate to an individual who is the subject of the proceeding or evaluation.
16The court in which the proceeding under ch. 980 is pending may issue any protective
17orders that it determines are appropriate concerning information made available or
18disclosed under this subdivision paragraph. Any representative of the department
19of corrections, the department of health services, the department of justice, or a
20district attorney may disclose information obtained under this subdivision
21paragraph for any purpose consistent with any proceeding under ch. 980.
AB489,94 22Section 94. 48.981 (7) (a) 9. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (i).
AB489,95 23Section 95. 48.981 (7) (a) 10. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (j) and
24amended to read:
AB489,34,9
148.981 (7d) (j) Juvenile court proceedings. A court conducting proceedings
2under s. 48.21 or, 48.213, a court conducting or 938.21, proceedings related to a
3petition under s. 48.13, 48.133, or 48.42 or a court conducting under ch. 938, or
4dispositional proceedings under subch. VI or VIII or under subch. VI of ch. 938 in
5which an issue is the abuse or neglect of the child or the abuse of the unborn child
6who is the subject of the report or record or abuse of the unborn child who is the
7subject of the report or record is an issue
or the substantial risk of abuse or neglect
8of a child who, during the period covered by the report or record, was in the home of
9the child who is the subject of the report or record
.
AB489,96 10Section 96. 48.981 (7) (a) 10g. of the statutes is repealed.
AB489,97 11Section 97. 48.981 (7) (a) 10j. of the statutes is repealed.
AB489,98 12Section 98. 48.981 (7) (a) 10m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (k)
13and amended to read:
AB489,34,2114 48.981 (7d) (k) Tribal court proceedings. A tribal court, or other adjudicative
15body authorized by an Indian tribe to perform child welfare functions , that exercises
16jurisdiction over children and unborn children alleged to be in need of protection or
17services for use in proceedings in which an issue is abuse or neglect of the child or
18abuse of the unborn child
who is the subject of the report or record or abuse of the
19unborn child who is the subject of the report or record is an issue
or the substantial
20risk of abuse or neglect of a child who, during the period covered by the report or
21record, was in the home of the child who is the subject of the report or record
.
AB489,99 22Section 99. 48.981 (7) (a) 10r. of the statutes is repealed.
AB489,100 23Section 100. 48.981 (7) (a) 11. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (L)
24and amended to read:
AB489,35,6
148.981 (7d) (L) Attorneys and guardians ad litem; juvenile court proceedings.
2The county corporation counsel or district attorney representing the interests of the
3public, the agency legal counsel, and the counsel or guardian ad litem representing
4the interests of a child in proceedings under subd. 10., 10g. or 10j. and the guardian
5ad litem representing the interests of
or an unborn child in proceedings under subd.
610.
par. (j).
AB489,101 7Section 101. 48.981 (7) (a) 11m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (Lm)
8and amended to read:
AB489,35,139 48.981 (7d) (Lm) Attorneys and guardians ad litem; tribal court proceedings.
10An attorney representing the interests of an Indian tribe in proceedings under subd.
1110m. or 10r.,
or of an Indian child in proceedings under subd. 10m. or 10r. or of or an
12Indian unborn child, as defined in sub. (3f) (a) 1., in proceedings under subd. 10m.
13par. (k).
AB489,102 14Section 102. 48.981 (7) (a) 11r. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (Lr).
AB489,103 15Section 103. 48.981 (7) (a) 12. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (m).
AB489,104 16Section 104. 48.981 (7) (a) 13. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (n)
17and amended to read:
AB489,35,2018 48.981 (7d) (n) Stepparent adoption screening. The department, a county
19department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm), or a licensed child welfare agency ordered
20to conduct a screening or an investigation of a stepparent under s. 48.88 (2) (c).
AB489,105 21Section 105. 48.981 (7) (a) 14. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (o) and
22amended to read:
AB489,35,2423 48.981 (7d) (o) Grand jury. A grand jury if it the grand jury determines that
24access to specified records is necessary for the conduct of its official business.
AB489,106 25Section 106. 48.981 (7) (a) 14m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (om).
AB489,107
1Section 107. 48.981 (7) (a) 15. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (p) and
2amended to read:
AB489,36,63 48.981 (7d) (p) Child fatality review team. A child fatality review team
4recognized by the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000
5or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the
6department
agency.
AB489,108 7Section 108. 48.981 (7) (a) 15g. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (pg).
AB489,109 8Section 109. 48.981 (7) (a) 15m. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (pm)
9and amended to read:
AB489,36,1310 48.981 (7d) (pm) Death investigation. A coroner, medical examiner or,
11pathologist, or other physician investigating the cause of death of a child whose
12death is unexplained or unusual or is associated with unexplained or suspicious
13circumstances.
AB489,110 14Section 110. 48.981 (7) (a) 17. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7d) (r) and
15amended to read:
AB489,36,1916 48.981 (7d) (r) Federal, state, or local agencies. A federal agency, state agency
17of this state or any other state, or local governmental unit located in this state or any
18other state that has a need for a report or record in order to carry out its responsibility
19to protect children from abuse or neglect or to protect unborn children from abuse.
AB489,111 20Section 111. 48.981 (7) (am) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (3f) (c) and
21amended to read:
AB489,36,2422 48.981 (3f) (c) Disclosure to tribal social services department. Notwithstanding
23par. (a) (intro.) sub. (7), a tribal agent who receives notice under sub. (3) par. (bm) may
24disclose the notice to a tribal social services department.
AB489,112
1Section 112. 48.981 (7) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (b) and
2amended to read:
AB489,37,83 48.981 (7g) (b) Authorization of parent. Notwithstanding par. (a), either Either
4parent of a child who is the subject of a report may authorize the disclosure of a record
5relating to that report for use in a child custody proceeding under s. 767.41 or 767.451
6or in an adoption proceeding under s. 48.833, 48.835, 48.837, or 48.839 when the
7child has been the subject of a report
. Any information that would identify a reporter
8shall be deleted before disclosure of a record under this paragraph.
AB489,113 9Section 113. 48.981 (7) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (c) and
10amended to read:
AB489,37,1411 48.981 (7g) (c) Authorization of subject. Notwithstanding par. (a), the The
12subject of a report may authorize the disclosure of a record to the subject's attorney.
13The authorization shall be in writing. Any information that would identify a reporter
14shall be deleted before disclosure of a record under this paragraph.
AB489,114 15Section 114. 48.981 (7) (cm) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (cm) and
16amended to read:
AB489,37,1917 48.981 (7g) (cm) Abuse or harassment restraining order proceedings.
18Notwithstanding par. (a), an An agency may disclose information from its records for
19use in proceedings under s. 48.25 (6), 813.122, or 813.125.
AB489,115 20Section 115. 48.981 (7) (cp) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7g) (cp) and
21amended to read:
AB489,38,322 48.981 (7g) (cp) Background check. Notwithstanding par. (a), an An agency
23may disclose a determination made before January 1, 2015, that a person has abused
24or neglected a child for purposes of a background check under s. 48.685 or 50.065 only
25if that determination has not been reversed or modified on appeal and may disclose

1such a determination made on or after January 1, 2015, for those purposes only as
2provided in sub. (3) (c) 5r (3g) (h) 2. Nothing in this paragraph prevents the
3disclosure of a report or record as otherwise permitted under this subsection.
AB489,116 4Section 116. 48.981 (7) (cr) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m)
5(a) (intro.) and amended to read:
AB489,38,66 48.981 (7m) (a) Definitions. (intro.) In this paragraph subsection:
AB489,117 7Section 117. 48.981 (7) (cr) 1. a. and b. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981
8(7m) (a) 1. and 2.
AB489,118 9Section 118. 48.981 (7) (cr) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m)
10(b) (intro.) and amended to read:
AB489,38,1711 48.981 (7m) (b) Information to department. (intro.) Notwithstanding par. (a)
12sub. (7), if an agency that receives a report under sub. (3) has reason to suspect that
13an incident of death or serious injury or an incident of egregious abuse or neglect has
14occurred, within 2 working days after determining that such an incident is suspected
15to have occurred the agency shall provide all of the following information to the
16subunit of the department responsible for statewide oversight of child abuse and
17neglect programs:
AB489,119 18Section 119. 48.981 (7) (cr) 2. a. to f. of the statutes are renumbered 48.981
19(7m) (b) 1. to 6.
AB489,120 20Section 120. 48.981 (7) (cr) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 48.981 (7m) (c) and
21amended to read:
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